Tadley shape up for Wessex challenge

TADLEY CALLEVA are hoping to go one better than last season when they missed out on promotion to the Wessex League’s Premier Division by a isngle point after finishing third in Division One.

“We were disappointed to miss out by one point,” said manager Danny Dolan, “but to be honest, the club wasn’t really geared up for Premier football. We are a non-paying club and when you go to level five, you’ve got to start having a budget and that’s not the say we’ve been doing things at the club.

“When I took over, the club was rock-bottom and we’ve been gradually rebuilding and trying to do things the right way for the future of the club.

“But I’m confident that we can go one step better this season and get into the top two, and that would be wonderful.”

Tadley travel to Romsey Town on Saturday with several new faces added to the squad, hich still includes master mareksman Brett Denham. Ben McCready, Sam Hamilton and Carl Self are all well known to West Berkshire football fans, and former Hartley Wintney Town pair Ben Dillon and Ryan Stephens also arrives at Barlows Park.

Summer ground work will be completed for Tadley to host Guildford City in the FA Cup’s Extra Preliminary Round on August 15.